In a huge blow to Australia, their red-ball skipper Pat Cummins might feature in the big Ashes series against England with an injury scare.
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The Ashes 2025-26 between the two red-ball giants, Australia and England, is set to kick off from November 21st. The much-anticipated series will feature a total of five Tests and will be played in Australia.
Pat Cummins doubtful for 2025 Ashes vs England
Pat Cummins is reportedly battling a back injury scare that might need to be managed during the Australian Test summer. According to the NewsCorp report (sourced from the West Australian), the Australian skipper is awaiting scan results, which might reveal some issues with his back that would need to be managed across the series.
Any issues found in reports would make it difficult for the star pacer to feature in all five Tests this summer, which would be a big loss to the home side.
Cummins has been the backbone of the Australian side for the past several years. His abilities both as a leader and captain have been essential to the side's dominance in world cricket.
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He is expected to miss the T20I series against New Zealand, and now with concerns surrounding his back, Cummins will most likely miss the ODI series against India as well before the all-important Ashes series.
The Australian skipper has not had many injury concerns. Since returning to the Test side in 2017, the pace bowling all-rounder has been very consistent. He featured in all five Tests against India earlier this year, followed by the WTC Final and three Tests against the West Indies.
With the Ashes around the corner, if Cummins misses out, Steve Smith might take over the Australian side.
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When is the Ashes 2025-26 starting?
Ashes is one of the biggest cricketing events in the world and carries a lot of legacy. More than just cricket, the event is a matter of pride between the two big cricketing nations, Australia and England.
The Ashes this year will start on November 21st, with the first Test being played in Perth. Let's look at the full schedule for the marquee series.
| Test | Date | Venue |
| 1st Ashes Test | Nov 21 - Nov 25 | Perth Stadium, Perth |
| 2nd Ashes Test | Dec 4 - Dec 8 | The Gabba, Brisbane |
| 3rd Ashes Test | Dec 17 - Dec 21 | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide |
| 4th Ashes Test | Dec 26 - Dec 30 | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne |
| 5th Ashes Test | Jan 4 - Jan 8 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |